Mick McCarthy: Patrick Bamford Wants To Focus On Club Career

Patrick Bamford has told Mick McCarthy that he wants to focus on his club career for now, as high-flying Leeds look to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Mick McCarthy addressed the assembled media at FAI HQ today at the launch of the FAI’s new partnership with sports betting company, Sport Pesa, and much to the disappointment of Ireland fans, there was no positive update regarding the international future of Patrick Bamford. The free-scoring Leeds United forward has previously told McCarthy that he would like to represent Ireland, but that desire seems to have waned of late.

The Republic of Ireland boss provided the following update on the situation:

“I won’t be speaking to Patrick Bamford now, he wants to concentrate on his club career for the moment. He’s back in the team, he’s scoring goals, Leeds are flying and he doesn’t want anything to distract him so we just left it.

“We just parked it and I’ll speak to him in the summer.”

Just twenty-four hours after Declan Rice was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, the Ireland boss will undoubtedly be aware of the risk involved in not tying down a player early. Patrick Bamford’s hesitance may be genuinely related to his club commitment, but Irish experiences from the Jack Grealish and Declan Rice situations do not instil confidence.

“He said that he’ll make himself available in the summer and that he just wants to concentrate on promotion with Leeds. I can understand that.

“He’s in the team and he’s scoring goals and Leeds want to get promoted. Things can upset you, I get it.”

Leed United are second in the Championship and are on course for a return to the Premier League, thanks to seven goals and two assists from Bamford.

“He comes to meet me about playing, all of a sudden he doesn’t score then he gets left out. Footballers can be sensitive to outside influences I get that.

“He could be in the Premier League with Leeds next season and he doesn’t want anything to disturb that.”

Goals have been difficult to come by for Irish teams of late, and adding a goalscorer of Patrick Bamford’s calibre can only improve the squad. However, for now, his international career is on hold.